2017 Toyota 86

Rankings & Awards

The 2017 Toyota 86 ranking is based on its score within the 2017 Affordable Sports Cars category.
Currently the Toyota 86 has a
score of 7.9
out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 18 pieces of research and data elements
using various sources.

Scorecard

Critics' Rating:

7.7

Performance:

8.6

Interior:

7.4

Total Cost of Ownership:

8.3

Safety:

9.2

Reliability:

2017 Toyota 86 Review

by Zach Doell | August 7, 2018

The 2017 Toyota 86 ranks in the middle of the highly competitive sports car class, thanks to its handsome interior, sharp handling, and great safety scores. That said, it has cramped rear seats and little room for cargo.

Features & Specs

Photos

2017 Toyota 86 Overview

Is the 2017 Toyota 86 a Good Used Car?

The 2017 Toyota 86 is a good option if you’re shopping for an affordable used sports car. This two-door coupe boasts an upscale interior, balanced ride and handling, and peppy four-cylinder engine. It’s also fairly practical for a sports coupe – it can seat four in a pinch, it returns good fuel economy, and it rates above average for crash safety and predicted reliability. Still, there are better options in this class. The 2017 Mazda Miata and 2017 Fiat 124 Spider have even sharper driving dynamics, higher-quality interiors, and more advanced safety features.

Why You Can Trust Us

We’ve researched 18 Toyota 86 reviews, as well as hard data points like reliability scores and cost of ownership estimates, to help you make the best car-buying decision possible.

U.S. News Best Cars has been ranking and reviewing vehicles since 2007, and our team has decades of experience in the auto industry. Though we’re passionate about cars, we’re even more committed to providing helpful consumer advice. To maintain objectivity, we don’t accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies.

How Much Is the 2017 Toyota 86?

You can expect to pay between $19,200 and $27,000 for a used 2017 Toyota 86. These figures are based on roughly 90 listings for the 2017 Toyota 86 on our site. The average price is $23,900. Prices vary depending on the vehicle's condition, mileage, features, and location.

How Much Does the 2017 Toyota 86 Cost to Own?

The 86’s five-year estimated costs for gas, insurance, repairs, and maintenance are $28,200 – or around $5,650 per year. That’s about average for the sports car class.

Is It Better to Buy a Used or New 86?

The 2018 Toyota 86 starts at $26,455. You can save thousands of dollars with a used model, especially if you want a base model with few options. You won’t miss out on many features with a used model either. A trim level shuffling was the only change for 2018. For many, these updates probably aren’t significant enough to justify the 2018 model’s higher price. The savings potential is even greater if you go back a couple more model years, when the car was known as the Scion FR-S. The Scion brand went defunct after the 2016 model year, and a few cars in the Scion lineup continued on as Toyota models.

For an inexpensive yet still sporty new car, consider the 2018 Honda Civic coupe, which starts at $19,350. The front-wheel-drive Civic isn’t as agile as the rear-drive 86, but it’s still fun to drive. The Civic also boasts a comfier ride, better fuel economy, more rear-seat and cargo space, and far more advanced safety features than the 86.

Which Model Year of the Toyota 86 Is Best?

Prior to 2017, the Toyota 86 was known as the Scion FR-S. It received this name change after the discontinuation of the Scion brand. The FR-S first debuted for the 2013 model year alongside its mechanical twin, the Subaru BRZ. There have been a few changes to the 86 and FR-S over the years, but the 2016 and 2017 updates were the most substantial changes. The FR-S gained a previously unavailable rearview camera for 2016. The newly renamed Toyota 86 received exterior and interior styling changes for 2017, as well as a retuned suspension that provides a smoother ride than before. These changes make the 86 a better vehicle. Still, you can save money by shopping for very similar 2013, 2014, and 2015 models.

How Reliable Is the 2017 Toyota 86?

2017 Toyota 86 Recalls

At the time of this writing, there are two recalls for the 2017 Toyota 86. One recall affects certain 86 models that have an underinflated spare tire. A second recall applies to models equipped with automatic transmission that may allow you to remove the ignition key without the transmission being in Park.

Which Used Toyota 86 Model Is Right for Me?

The 2017 Toyota 86 is available in two trim levels: a base model and an 860 Special Edition. The 86 base model comes standard with a 7-inch touch screen, rearview camera, Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary ports, cruise control, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a limited-slip differential, and 17-inch alloy wheels. A navigation system is available.

Certified Pre-Owned Toyota 86 Warranty

Toyota provides a one-year/12,000-mile limited warranty on all its certified pre-owned vehicles, and it extends the original new-car powertrain warranty to seven years or 100,000 miles. Each CPO Toyota must pass a 160-point inspection. Additional benefits like towing and roadside assistance may be available, so read the Toyota warranty page carefully. This is one of the most comprehensive certified pre-owned programs among non-luxury automakers.

How Safe Is the 86?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2017 Toyota 86 the top safety score of Good in four out of five areas tested. The 86 received the second-highest rating of Acceptable for small overlap front crash safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 86 a perfect five-star rating for rollover crash safety, as well as four stars for front impact safety. All 2017 models come standard with a rearview camera, but no other advanced safety features are available.

2017 Toyota 86 Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: 2017 Toyota 86 or 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

The 2017 Mazda Miata sets the bar for the sports car class. The Miata delivers even sharper handling than the 86, along with better fuel economy (up to 26/35 mpg) and a more luxurious interior. It comes in one of two body styles: a convertible soft top or a retractable hardtop. The Miata is available with a longer list of advanced safety that includes blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning. However, the Miata isn’t as practical. It only seats two, and it offers less cargo space than the 86. Unless those are deal breakers, the Miata is the better option.

Which Is Better: 2017 Toyota 86 or 2017 Nissan 370Z?

The 2017 Nissan 370Z excites in ways that the 86 can’t. The 370Z boasts a big V6 engine with upwards of 350 horsepower, and it can easily outrun the 86. However, it can’t match the Toyota’s practicality or quality. The 370Z has two seats, a slim cargo space, a rough ride, an outdated cabin design, and much lower fuel economy (just 19/26 mpg). Stick with the Toyota.

2017 86 Performance

How Does the 2017 Toyota 86 Drive?

The Toyota 86 has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 205 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive are standard. A six-speed automatic transmission is available, and it limits the engine to 200 horsepower. That’s not a lot of power compared to rivals like the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro, but this flat-four engine still hustles the 86 up to speed briskly and offers instant throttle response. The six-speed manual is enjoyable to shift through its gears, and it has a nice short throw. The six-speed automatic is pleasant as well; it features steering wheel-mounted shift paddles that allow the driver to change gear manually.

A harsh ride was one of the main drawbacks of the 2016 FR-S, but Toyota’s overhaul of this sports car seems to have fixed that issue. The 86 has a retuned suspension that feels more compliant on rough roads. Overall ride quality is smoother and more enjoyable for the everyday commute, but – like almost every car in this class – it’s certainly not soft. Notably, these updates haven’t detracted from the 86’s fun-to-drive handling. The 86 remains stable around turns, its steering is nicely weighted and communicative, and the brakes slow the car to a stop confidently.

Does the 2017 Toyota 86 Get Good Gas Mileage?

The Toyota 86 gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway when equipped with the automatic transmission. That’s good for a sports car, but the manual transmission drops these ratings to 21/28 mpg (city/highway).

2017 86 Interior

How Many People Does the 2017 86 Seat?

The Toyota 86 is a two-door coupe with four seats. The front seats are comfortable and nicely contoured. There’s generous head- and legroom for taller drivers and passengers up front as well, which can’t be said of every car in this class. However, the rear seats are cramped even for kids, and this space is better used for storage. Leather upholstery and heated seats are available.

The 86’s cabin impresses with its simple, minimalist styling. Many of its plastics have a premium look and feel. If there is a drawback, the 86 could use more sound insulation. Plenty of road, wind, and engine noise enters the cabin at highway speeds.

How Many Car Seats Fit in the 2017 Toyota 86?

The 86 has two full sets of LATCH connectors for securing child seats. Both of the upper tether anchors are easy to find, but the lower anchors are deep in the seat cushions and hard to access.

2017 Toyota 86 Features

All 2017 86 models come standard with a 7-inch touch screen, a rearview camera, an eight-speaker stereo, USB and auxiliary ports, and Bluetooth. A navigation system is available. The touch screen is simple to use, and there are handy audio and climate control knobs to the sides and underneath. The dashboard layout is very driver focused, but the screen can be hard to see on sunny days.